(No AI has been used in writing this article)
Ten years ago, many of us rolled our eyes when the topic of self-driving cars appeared. New words such as lidar were introduced, and we all knew that this technology would not be ready for a long time. Well, fast forward to 2025, and it is safe to say that technological ability is no longer an issue. The only thing that holds companies like Uber back from going live with those vehicles is the legislation that allows them to be driven without a driver. Uber is already using those vehicles in London; however, to comply with the law, a driver needs to be in the driving seat and monitor the vehicle’s actions at all times. So I presume, no Instagram scrolling for those guys…
The legislation
The rumour has it that from 2026, the government is starting to fast-forward the legislation. No one knows how long this will exactly take, but speculation that this may be achieved within 12 months is possible. To be fair, the UK will not be the first to pioneer this. Many US cities, such as San Francisco and California, have been operating with those vehicles for many years already. It should really be a copy/paste model, plus of course telling those cars to drive on the correct side of the road…
The reality check
In short, everything we know so far will be completely changed. Currently, it is too painful for many drivers and minicab companies, including Carrot Cars, even to think about this. It’s like being on the Titanic when it is sinking, and instead of looking for the lifeboat, we focus on the music that the brave musicians provided to calm the panic. Sadly, no music in the world will sweep away the reality of the issue we are facing.
What does this mean for giants like UBER!
Well, it must be brilliant for them. Imagine a vehicle that works 24/7/365 and will accept any jobs that will be sent to it. No sick leaves, no being late for a job due to personal problems a driver may face, or dealing with any complaints that may be connected to human behaviour. Most importantly, the company can keep 100% of the fare, meaning that the prices for the future journey may be unbelievably cheap, undercutting any human-operated service to the level that it is just physically not sustainable to offer.
Can human-operated services survive?
The short answer is, not on the current scale. However, there is a niche to be followed. I predict that in the first couple of years after the legislation has been approved, there will be lots of resistance from the consumers. There will be people who boycott the whole system in order to support the industry. However, just as there were people at the beginning who were boycotting Amazon at first, they realised later that the convenience of that system was too good to be ignored. So, by swallowing their hypocrisy, they will all eventually surrender.
But let’s check what the robot taxis cannot do?
Unless Uber introduces humanoid robots at the same time, your airport meet-and-greet will be out of the question. Helping passengers with their luggage and having a friendly chat that the clients welcome is not possible unless there is a soulless conversation with a ChatGPT-type bot. I predict that the human touch (speaking hypothetically) will become a luxury where many people prefer this option. Some ego driven people may even want to show off, “Look at me, I can afford a human driver.”
The same goes for other attributes, such as helping a client with installing a baby seat or holding open an umbrella on a rainy day. Not to mention offering vital security to vulnerable clients, such as not driving away until the customer is inside a building late at night.
Which drivers are likely to stay in the industry?
The short answer is “Simply the best” ones. The question is, who is the best driver type, and who is there to judge? Well, the clients are the ultimate judges. Getting a 5-star rating for just getting the client to their destination alive will not be the case anymore. People will start judging the service by much higher standards. They will feel and see if the driver is genuine, helpful and friendly. Most of all, do they have manners? Are they going the extra mile for customer comfort, or are they there only to drop people from A to B? (Well, for that service, we will have robotaxis.)
If you are a driver, what should you do?
If you are as optimistic as we are and want to stay in the industry, then it is recommended that you start building relationships with companies that are planning to establish their footprint in the business without robotaxis. If not already doing so, also start looking at the service you provide through customers’ eyes. Do you open a door for clients? Do you address them as Sir or Madam? Do you help them with their luggage? If yes, you are one of us. So consider signing up with Carrot Cars. If you check the reviews, such as in Trustpilot, you can see that our drivers’ team is undoubtedly the best in London; hence, the chance for Carrot Cars to thrive even after the introduction of robotaxi, is very high.
Join the company with soul!
